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World Journal of Surgical Oncology Dec 2023Abdominally based free flaps are commonly used in breast reconstruction. A frequent complication is venous congestion, which might contribute to around 40% of flap...
BACKGROUND
Abdominally based free flaps are commonly used in breast reconstruction. A frequent complication is venous congestion, which might contribute to around 40% of flap failures. One way to deal with it is venous supercharging. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the scientific evidence for the effects of venous supercharging.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane library. The included articles were critically appraised, and certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach.
RESULTS
Thirty-six studies were included. Most studies had serious study limitations and problems with directness. Three studies report 'routine' use of venous supercharging and performed it prophylactically in patients who did not have clinical signs of venous congestion. Seventeen studies report on flap complications, of which one is a randomised controlled trial demonstrating statistically significant lower complication rates in the intervention group. The overall certainty of evidence for the effect of a venous supercharging on flap complications, length of hospital stay and operative time, in patients without clinical signs of venous congestion, is very low (GRADE ⊕ ⊕ ⊝ ⊝), and low on and surgical takebacks (GRADE ⊕ ⊕ ⊝ ⊝). Twenty-one studies presented data on strategies and overall certainty of evidence for using radiological findings, preoperative measurements, and clinical risk factors to make decisions on venous supercharging is very low (GRADE ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝).
CONCLUSION
There is little scientific evidence for how to predict in which cases, without clinical signs of venous congestion, venous supercharging should be performed. The complication rate might be lower in patients in which a prophylactic venous anastomosis has been performed.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO (CRD42022353591).
Topics: Humans; Hyperemia; Perforator Flap; Graft Survival; Mammaplasty; Veins; Retrospective Studies; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38044454
DOI: 10.1186/s12957-023-03254-9 -
Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive &... Dec 2023Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) surgery is one of the most difficult breast reconstruction techniques available, both in terms of operating complexity and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) surgery is one of the most difficult breast reconstruction techniques available, both in terms of operating complexity and patient recovery. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways were recently introduced in numerous subspecialties to reduce recovery time, patient pain, and cost by providing multimodal perioperative care. Plastic surgery has yet to widely integrate ERAS with DIEP reconstruction, mostly due to insufficient data on patient outcomes with this combined approach.
METHODS
Five major medical databases were queried using predetermined search criteria according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement. Statistical analysis was performed using Cochrane's RevMan (v5.4).
RESULTS
A total of 466 articles were identified. A total of 14 studies were included in the review with a combined sample of 2102 patients. Eight studies were included in the meta-analysis with a combined sample of 1679 patients. On average, the included studies utilized 11.69 of 18 suggested protocols for ERAS with breast reconstruction. Our primary outcome, length of stay, was reduced by a mean of 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI] [-1.30, -0.94], n = 1627, p < 0.001) days in the ERAS group. Postoperative oral morphine equivalents (OME) were also reduced in the ERAS group by 104.02 (95% CI [-181.43, -26.61], n = 545, p = 0.008) OME. The ERAS group saw a significant 3.54 (95% CI [-4.43, -2.65], n = 527, p < 0.001) standardized mean difference cost reduction relative to the control groups. The surgery time was reduced by 60.46 (95% CI [-125, 4.29], n = 624, p < 0.07) min, although this was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS
The ERAS pathway in DIEP breast reconstruction is consistently associated with reduced hospital stay, opioid use, and patient cost. Moreover, there appears to be no evidence of serious adverse outcomes associated with the application of the ERAS protocol.
Topics: Humans; Enhanced Recovery After Surgery; Perforator Flap; Mammaplasty; Breast; Perioperative Care
PubMed: 37924717
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2023.10.058 -
World Neurosurgery Jan 2024Ventriculoperitoneal shunt is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures in the treatment of hydrocephalus. There are reports of migration of the distal catheter to...
BACKGROUND
Ventriculoperitoneal shunt is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures in the treatment of hydrocephalus. There are reports of migration of the distal catheter to the breast pocket where cerebrospinal fluid then collects and can develop into a pseudocyst. There exist case reports in the literature of patients with prior breast augmentation who present with distal catheter migration from the peritoneal space into the breast tissue. We present a case series of 3 patients with preexisting breast augmentation who returned with unilateral breast enlargement after ventriculoperitoneal shunt. In all 3 patients, the distal catheter migrated out of the peritoneal space and was found to be coiled around the breast prosthesis. Additionally, we offer recommendations for managing these complications and a review of the literature.
METHODS
We performed a systematic review without meta-analysis of studies involving management of shunt migration in the setting of preexisting breast implants. We present a case series of 3 patients whom we treated with breast cerebrospinal pseudocyst after migration of the distal catheter into the breast tissue.
RESULTS
A total of 17 studies, dating from 2002 to 2022, met our inclusion and exclusion criteria and were selected for full review. Catheter migration occurred between 2 weeks and 9 months of initial shunt placement. All patients presented with unilateral breast enlargement and cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst formation. All patients underwent revision shunt surgery. Surgical treatment strategies used included reimplantation of the distal catheter into the pleural space or ipsilateral or contralateral peritoneal space or complete removal of the entire shunt system.
CONCLUSIONS
Breast-related ventriculoperitoneal shunt complication is a rare entity that is increasingly seen as more patients receive breast augmentation. Breast-related shunt complications most commonly present with cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst formation in the breast. It is important for neurosurgeons to be aware of an underlying breast implant before placing a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. For patients who have migration of the distal catheter into the breast, a protocol for managing these situations should be followed to ensure no shunt infection and avoidance of future catheter migration complications with subsequent shunt revisions.
Topics: Humans; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt; Mammaplasty; Breast Implants; Hydrocephalus; Postoperative Complications; Cysts; Iatrogenic Disease; Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; Breast; Hypertrophy
PubMed: 37898269
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.10.120 -
The British Journal of Surgery Jan 2024Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, with remarkable advances in early diagnosis, systemic treatments, and surgical techniques. Robotic nipple-sparing... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, with remarkable advances in early diagnosis, systemic treatments, and surgical techniques. Robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy has been trialled; however, the complication rates, surgical outcomes, and oncological safety of this approach remain obscure.
METHODS
A systematic search of the literature was conducted from conception until September 2022. Studies examining complications and operative variables where robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy was compared with conventional nipple-sparing mastectomy were included. Primary study outcomes were complications (Clavien-Dindo grade III complications, skin or nipple necrosis, seroma, haematoma, infection, implant loss, and wound dehiscence) and oncological safety (recurrence and positive margins). The secondary outcomes included operative variables, length of stay, cost-effectiveness, learning curve, and aesthetic outcome.
RESULTS
A total of seven studies of overall fair quality, involving 1674 patients, were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Grade 3 complications were reduced in robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy without statistical significance (OR 0.60 (95 per cent c.i. 0.35 to 1.05)). Nipple necrosis was significantly reduced in robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy (OR 0.54 (95 per cent c.i. 0.30 to 0.96); P = 0.03; I2 = 15 per cent). Operating time (mean difference +58.81 min (95 per cent c.i. +28.19 to +89.44 min); P = 0.0002) and length of stay (mean difference +1.23 days (95 per cent c.i. +0.64 to +1.81 days); P < 0.0001) were significantly increased in robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy, whereas the opposite was true for blood loss (mean difference -53.18 ml (95 per cent c.i. -71.78 to -34.58 ml); P < 0.0001).
CONCLUSION
Whilst still in its infancy, robotic breast surgery may become a viable option in breast surgery. Nonetheless, the oncological safety of this approach requires robust assessment.
Topics: Humans; Female; Breast Neoplasms; Mastectomy; Robotic Surgical Procedures; Nipples; Postoperative Complications; Treatment Outcome; Necrosis; Mammaplasty; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 37890072
DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znad336 -
Updates in Surgery Jun 2024There is limited evidence on the ideal retention thickness of skin flap in mastectomy. Residual breast tissue (RBT) after mastectomy still represents an unknown risk for... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
There is limited evidence on the ideal retention thickness of skin flap in mastectomy. Residual breast tissue (RBT) after mastectomy still represents an unknown risk for local recurrence or new breast cancer lesions. We made this systematic review to identify the optimal flap after mastectomy with minimal complications and better oncological safety.
METHODS
A systematic review was performed using MEDLINE search in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library with the search terms relevant to skin flap thickness and residual breast tissue in breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy.
RESULTS
Twenty-one studies were included of which fifteen studies enrolled 3814 patients who received mastectomy, and additional six studies were based on cadavers or breast specimens. Four studies confirmed the presence of the superficial fascial layer (Camper's fascia) which can theoretically be used as an anatomical marker for flap retention during mastectomy. Two other studies confirmed Camper's fascia deficiency to a greater or lesser extent. The flap thickness ranged from 3.8 mm to 23 mm in 2692 patients of 7 studies, which was related to BMI, breast size, and examination modalities. Two retrospective and one prospective studies confirmed flaps exceeding 5 mm could significantly increase postoperative complications. Nine studies including 1122 patients explored the association among flap thickness, RBT, and complications, 3 studies of which confirmed excessive flap thickness could cause a significant increase in RBT, which proved to be a potential risk factor for local recurrence in 3 studies. Flaps beyond 5 mm were also found to significantly increase the chance of local recurrence in 4 studies.
CONCLUSION
Camper's fascia can serve as an ideal demarcation between fat and breast tissue based on most current studies. 5 mm thickness of the flap retention in mastectomy is recommended if Camper's fascia is absent or obscure, through which better cosmetic outcomes and less RBT can be achieved.
Topics: Humans; Breast Neoplasms; Surgical Flaps; Mastectomy; Female; Breast; Postoperative Complications; Mammaplasty; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
PubMed: 37864625
DOI: 10.1007/s13304-023-01675-5 -
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Mar 2024Reduction mammaplasties are routinely performed on women of child-bearing age, yet there still exists some uncertainty regarding a patient's ability to breastfeed... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Reduction mammaplasties are routinely performed on women of child-bearing age, yet there still exists some uncertainty regarding a patient's ability to breastfeed following the procedure. This is due to inconsistent definitions of "successful" breastfeeding, a variety of pedicles implemented, and inadequate follow-up in the published literature. Our aim was to summarize the current data and provide clear recommendations for counseling patients on expected breastfeeding outcomes following reduction mammaplasty.
METHODS
A systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines was conducted. We included papers that reported proportion of breastfeeding ability following reduction mammaplasty.
RESULTS
We identified 33 papers that met our inclusion criteria. We found that women who undergo reduction mammaplasty are at a 3.5 times increased odds of not being able to breastfeed compared to controls. Overall, reduction mammaplasty patients have a breastfeeding success rate of 62%. The breastfeeding success rate for patients with inferior pedicles was 64%, superior pedicles was 59%, and lateral pedicles was 55%. No conclusions could be drawn regarding medial, central, vertical, and horizontal pedicles on breastfeeding ability.
CONCLUSION
Current data suggest that women undergoing reduction mammaplasty have an increased odds of unsuccessful breastfeeding when compared to similar women who have not undergone the procedure. Based on the current literature, pedicle type does play a role in rate of breastfeeding success, although there is a need for further research on the aforementioned pedicles. Physicians should be aware of the likelihood of successful breastfeeding following reduction mammaplasty so that patients can be more thoroughly counseled prior to a decision for surgery.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I
This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Topics: Humans; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Treatment Outcome; Breast Feeding; Retrospective Studies; Mammaplasty; Esthetics; Hypertrophy
PubMed: 37845550
DOI: 10.1007/s00266-023-03690-8 -
Annals of Plastic Surgery Nov 2023Tissue oximetry monitoring has shown superior outcomes to conventional monitoring methods for autologous breast reconstruction in retrospective studies with consecutive... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Tissue oximetry monitoring has shown superior outcomes to conventional monitoring methods for autologous breast reconstruction in retrospective studies with consecutive cohorts. A recent study used consecutive cohorts with tissue oximetry as the earlier cohort and found that tissue oximetry was nonsuperior. We hypothesize that improvement in microsurgical outcomes with institutional experience confounds the superiority of tissue oximetry demonstrated in prior studies. This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the outcomes of tissue oximetry monitoring compared with conventional monitoring.
METHODS
Relevant studies were found using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science searches for keywords such as near-infrared spectroscopy or tissue oximetry and microsurgery. Studies included compared tissue oximetry and conventional monitoring in autologous breast reconstruction patients. Studies were excluded if they did not contain a comparison group. Random-effective models were used to analyze early returns to the operating room, the total number of partial or complete flap loss, and late fat necrosis.
RESULTS
Six hundred sixty-nine studies were identified; 3 retrospective cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 1644 flaps were in the tissue oximetry cohort, and 1387 flaps were in the control cohort. One study contained tissue oximetry as the former cohort; 2 had tissue oximetry as the latter. Neither technique was superior for any measured outcomes. The estimated mean differences between tissue oximetry and conventional monitoring method were early returns, -0.06 (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.52 to 0.410; P = 0.82); partial flap loss, -0.04 (95% CI, -0.86 to 0.79; P = 0.93); complete flap loss, -1.29 (95% CI, -3.45 to 0.87; P = 0.24); and late fat necrosis -0.02 (95% CI, -0.42 to, 0.39; P = 0.94).
CONCLUSIONS
In a systematic review and meta-analysis of mixed timeline retrospective cohort studies, tissue oximetry does not provide superior patient outcomes and shifts our current understanding of postoperative breast reconstruction monitoring. Prospective studies and randomized trials comparing monitoring methods need to be included in the existing literature.
Topics: Humans; Retrospective Studies; Prospective Studies; Fat Necrosis; Mammaplasty; Postoperative Complications; Oximetry
PubMed: 37823627
DOI: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000003705 -
Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive &... Dec 2023The impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) on the complication rate after implant-based and autologous breast reconstruction remains unclear. The aim of this study... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) on the complication rate after implant-based and autologous breast reconstruction remains unclear. The aim of this study was to systematically review and perform a meta-analysis of previously published studies on immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) in breast cancer patients treated with NACT compared with controls.
METHODS
PubMed and EMBASE were searched to identify studies assessing the impact of NACT on major and minor complications after IBR. The primary effect measures were relative risk (RR), 95% confidence interval (95% CI), and p-value.
RESULTS
Eight studies comprising 51,731 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Of these, 5161 patients received NACT and 46,570 patients did not receive NACT. In regard to major complications, NACT did not statistically significant increase the rate of reconstructive failure (RR = 1.35, 95% CI = 0.96-1.91, p = 0.09), the rate of mastectomy skin-flap necrosis (RR = 1.39, 95% CI = 0.61-3.17, p = 0.44), or the rate of reoperation (RR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.87-1.37, p = 0.45). Regarding minor complications, NACT did not significantly increase the rate of wound complications (RR = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.87-1.28, p = 0.62). In a subgroup analysis of implant-based breast reconstruction following NACT, single-stage direct-to-implant (DTI) had a significantly lower implant failure rate compared with two-staged tissue expander/implant (TE/I) (RR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.26-0.71, p = 0.0011).
CONCLUSION
NACT did not increase the major or minor complication rate after IBR with either autologous tissue or implants. Thus, NACT and IBR should be considered safe procedures. The review of studies describing patients undergoing implant-based breast reconstruction following NACT could indicate that single-stage DTI was a safer procedure than two-staged TE/I. However, the association requires further evaluation.
Topics: Humans; Female; Mastectomy; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Breast Neoplasms; Mammaplasty; Postoperative Complications; Treatment Outcome; Breast Implants; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 37804643
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2023.09.048 -
Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive &... Nov 2023Fat grafting is commonly undertaken as a third-stage procedure in patients with staged implant-based breast reconstruction (IBR). However, fat grafting performed during... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Fat grafting is commonly undertaken as a third-stage procedure in patients with staged implant-based breast reconstruction (IBR). However, fat grafting performed during second-stage expander/implant exchange provides faster results without an additional procedure and associated risks (Patel et al., 2020). We previously demonstrated that fat grafting during second-stage expander/implant exchange did not increase clinical complications (Patel et al., 2020). As a corollary, this study investigates patients' satisfaction with second- versus third-stage fat grafting to help establish a set of best practices for the timing of fat grafting in such patients.
METHODS
A review of PubMed/MEDLINE databases (2010-2022) was performed to identify articles investigating the quality of life in patients undergoing second- or third-stage fat grafting after IBR. BREAST-Q scores were pooled using random-effects modeling and the DerSimonian-Laird method. Post-hoc sensitivity analyses were completed using the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman method. The Haldane-Anscombe correction was used for outcomes with low counts. All study analyses adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
RESULTS
Six studies (216 patients) were included. Pooled random-effects modeling demonstrated no significant changes in BREAST-Q satisfaction with outcome scores when comparing patients who received second- versus third-stage fat grafting (p = 0.178) with results robust to sensitivity analyses. In addition, pooled analyses of the available data demonstrated that second-stage fat grafting did not increase downstream revision surgery needs compared to third-stage fat grafting.
CONCLUSIONS
In combination with our prior work, this meta-analysis suggests that second-stage fat grafting provides not only equivalent but improved clinical and quality of life outcomes with fewer procedures in patients undergoing expander/IBR.
Topics: Humans; Female; Mastectomy; Quality of Life; Treatment Outcome; Mammaplasty; Adipose Tissue; Breast Neoplasms
PubMed: 37797375
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2023.09.026 -
Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive &... Nov 2023Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) are commonly used in prepectoral breast reconstruction. However, ADM is associated with high cost and potentially infection and seroma.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) are commonly used in prepectoral breast reconstruction. However, ADM is associated with high cost and potentially infection and seroma. Comparative studies on prepectoral reconstruction with and without ADM are limited to small, single-institution series. The purpose of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of prepectoral reconstruction with and without ADM. A systematic literature review was performed to identify studies comparing prepectoral reconstruction with and without ADM using PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. Pooled rates of patient demographics and outcomes were analyzed. Meta-analytic effect size estimates were calculated for reconstructive complications in studies comparing reconstruction with and without ADM. In total, 515 reconstructions from four studies were included. Most cases were nipple-sparing mastectomies and utilized tissue-expander reconstructions. Meta-analysis demonstrated no significant difference in the rate of complications between cohorts with and without ADM. Short-term complications included reconstructive failure (1.2% in ADM cohort and 2.8% in no-ADM), seroma (1.2% and 8.3%, respectively), hematoma (1.2% and 2.1%), infection (4.7% and 4.2%), and mastectomy flap ischemia and/or necrosis (2.4% and 5.2%). Long-term complications included rippling (3.3% in ADM and 5.1% in no-ADM cohorts) and capsular contracture (6.8% and 3.4%, respectively). This meta-analysis demonstrated no difference in the rate of complications between cases with and without ADM. However, the outcomes data from no-ADM reconstruction mostly reflect robust mastectomy flaps. Surgeon discretion as informed by specific clinical scenarios should guide decisions regarding the use of ADM in prepectoral breast reconstruction.
Topics: Humans; Female; Mastectomy; Acellular Dermis; Breast Implantation; Seroma; Breast Neoplasms; Mammaplasty; Breast Implants; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 37793198
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2023.09.042